The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1887-12-22


And wi1eEcd old Peter Perkins got into
his old overcoat and went home through
tho streets where the snow lay thick and
heavy until he reached Ais comfortable
looking three story house. After hc rang
the bell he nuttcrcd TO himself
II might just as we'll have only given
Mark 81 instead of So. He'd u'bcen just
as thankful, and I'd a'sayed that much.
And I'll those things therc-Uhy, | could
have sold them at Il discount, but then,
after It all, | was losing ground in church
custom by what they call my stingincss,
and now, well, guess after all I'm glad
[ give them. The poor who get them can't
complain. Oh, here she comes at last! And
she will expect {. present, too! 1t seems
cs if everybody was Dcset Christmas time!
I'm sick of it. 1Ia!'
At this instant Mrs. Warner, who was
servant and housckecpcr both, opened the
door, her rather long face wrcathcd in
smiles and her form dressed in ler best
black silk gown. Peter Perkins was as
toniSlc,l and surprised G. she led the way
to the tii1ing room. where the old mans
dinner was laid for on the table sucked
a splendid turkey, while several other
DAINTY and tOothsoInc dishes stood about,
among them noble mince pie that gave
out a mellow, luscious OdOr that mortal
Could net withstand, and yet he turned,
saying ECrcely:
MARY Warner. Who gave you author
ity to do this? Why, here is dinner
cpcach for twenty, and such cxtr&yu-
gancc! I told you this morning l didn't
believe ii holiday nonsense, and told YOU
to cook half Il machercl and q potato,
didn't I:''
"You did, sir, and I was going to do it;
only this morning my sister in the coun-
try sent me II Christmas box, and these
were il it, and as [ couldn't cat them ell
myself l made bold to offer you half, sir,
and 10 oifcncc, hope"
"Oh, we'll, that alters the case. Well,
yes, | don't care if lo,'' and he allows
himself TO fall in the chair she pushed for
ward, and he fell to and in short time
had eaten q most excellent dinner, which
he finished with a great golden doughnut
and piece Of cheese. He took these as in
dream one in each hand and made
alternate bites Of dCughnut and cheese in
a reflective and even retrospective man
Ecr Gs hc thought:
"Why don't city folks learn to make
crullers like this? For love nor money
you couldn't buy anything like this in all
| this great city. They taste just rs
mother used to make them. Her tin
crulier box was never empty and how
| good they were; the older they were the
r1leilower end better they were. l re-
member she used 10 make nc n boy and Il
| mouse every time size fried cr,lllcrs, and
| always two P's for my letters. And
| Christmas and New Years she pUt car
! away seed candies all over mine. | won
| der low ehc did it. That rlince pie was
| good. | thi;l1 / viii take another piece.
l., -
| think Of old Tines
| until lis usual bedtime came, when lie lit
his candle, fer LIE never would have gas,
! a;ld went 10 bed.
Scarcely had he got warm and comfort
| able when l.c saw standing ~ his bedsidc
| q stranger whose face was carefully
| turned away, and who wore 4 long, Loose
| garment Of some unknown fashion, ant!
| instinc.iycly 1s.cr Perkins pat his hand
| under his pillow after his revolver, think
| ing cf robbers. but the stranger said in a
low voice, which yet had such authors; !
| IN il that the wrctched man dared NJ;
di2obcy:
"Arise. tlrces yourself and follow me- -
As in q dream the little lniser followed
! iIIt they went SD swiftly that he could
| not see where they were going until NJ
last tie stranger said:
OPP. your eyes and tell me what you
| see =
Peter Perkins stood nnd gazcd with Ii.
| wizc.3el face pale and frightened. Ue
! seemed II lie il vast place. 50 vast thai
! it appeared 10 be visible illimitable space
/ There was TO beginning nor eId 10 any
where, aE.d yet he was there In the mitlst
OF this infinity Of distance, and before
him upon nothing stood great tables upol
which was piled = heterogeneous collection